Loose leaf binder



May12, 1931.

A. G. LOTTER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 4. 1928 Turm-fllullleli- Patented May ia, resi nir 'rare Parser ADOLPH G. LOTTER, OF MILWAUKEE, WSCONSN, ASSGOS, BY MESNE ASSGNMENTS,

vTO STATIONEB/S LOOSE LEAF CO., OF 'MILVAUKEE XVSCONSEN, A. GORPORATON OF TISCONSIN LOOSE LEAF BINDER application mea June 4, 192s. serial No. 282,725.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loose leaf binders particularly of the type having two binder heads, from one of which flexible posts or chains are extensible to have their outer free ends fixed to the other head so that upon' thefoperation of suitable take-up mechanism, a retaining pressure is applied to` a bodyof leaves inserted between the 10 binder heads.

Itis an object of this invention to provide an improved binder structure whereby sheets having round apertures may be used in lieu of the slotted apertures heretofore used and in which the uppermost binder headmay be instantly detached from the chains or posts to permit the ready removal oradditionof sheets. y

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved loose leaf binder of the characterV described having a novel bridge plate provided with posts for 'assistingin holding the sheets in the binder when the uppermost head-is removed and to facilitate'the removal of any number of the uppermost sheets or the vinsertion or addition'of sheets. Y

-A more specific object ofl this invention resides in the provision' of,y an improved binder ofthecharacter described in which the adjustable flexible posts have grooves or recesses'in their outer ends adapted to be passed into the uppermost binder head for engagement with a readily operable latch mechanism carried thereby.

` With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds`,fmy invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partssubstantially as hereinafter described and moreV particularly vdefinedby the ,appended claims, it being understood that suchy changes iny the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed inventionfmay be made as come within the scope of theV claims.

In the accompanying drawings, y'I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment ofv my invention const-ructedy accordingpto the best mode I have so far "devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

F lgure 1 1s a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, ofthe binder heads of ai loose leaf binder embodying my inven- Q Referring now moreparticularlyt-o the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughcmt the several views, 5 and 6 designate the upl Vperand-lower binder heads, respectively, of a loose leaf binder between which a body 4of leaves 7 1s adapted to be clamped and protected by cover members 8 hinged to the binder heads, as at 9. `The binder heads arefof tubular construction, preferably formed from sheet-metal or tubing of approximately rectangular shape in transverse section and have their ends closed by caps 10 which provide the means for mounting the covers 8. f i Y The lower binder head preferably has a rightl yand left threaded screw-shaft 11 transversely journaled therein with nut members Vl2 mounted thereon to provide i means for extending vand retracting a pair of flexible post sections 18 which pass into the binder head at points slightly spaced from each end through guide ways la, to extensibly lie therein,- 'the screw-shaft 11 being actuated by a removable hey 15 in 'the conventional manner.' The free end portions of the flexible posts have provision for adding sections 16 and in the endmost sewtion 16 isthreaded an end piece 17 having a locking groove 18 for the purpose later described. l I l The extreme free ends of the `Hexible posts, formed bythe end pieces 17, are

passed into the,r uppermost binder head i 'rthrough apertures 19 in its inner wall 2O in register with the guide ways 14 to engage in socket members 21 fixed to the top wall of the head. The sockets 21 cooperate with guides or spacers 22 struck from the sides of a slide bar 23 to slidably position the `bar in the plane of the grooves 18 when the ends of the flexible posts are engaged within the sockets 21. The slide bar 23 has a pair of medial elongated openings 24 for the purpose later described and a pair of key-hole slots 25, the large portions 26 of which register with the openings 19 and the sockets 21 and are of a size to receive the head 17 of the posts, and the smaller portions 27 being of a size to snuglyV engage the reduced portion oi the end members 17 at their grooves 18.

One end 28 of the slide bar is reduced in width and passes through an aperture 29 in the adjacent end cap 10 and is bent downwardly, as at 30, to provide a finger-engaging member for the convenient actuation of the bar in the upper binder head. Then the upper binder head is to loe attached to the posts 13, the finger-engaging piece 30 of the slide bar is engaged to move the4 bar to the right with reference to Figures 1 and 2, registering the enlarged portion 2,6 of the key-hole slots with the apertures 19 in the bottom wall of the upper binder head, to permit the insertion of the end members 17 in the sockets 21 vwith their recesses 13 in alignment with the smaller portions of the key-hole slots. The slide bar is then moved to the left with reference to Figures 1 and 2 to engage the smaller portions 27 of the key-hole yslots with recesses 18 o1 the posts.

The body of leaves are retained on the lower binder head in the proper stacked position when the upper binder headV is removed by rigid posts 31 fixed medially thereto, as at 32, and having their outer ends 33 adapted to be passed into theupper binder head, when in place, through apertures 34, the posts 31 having provision for the addition of sections thereto. The elongated openings 21 in the bar 23 register with the openings 34 to permit the posts to pass therethrough without interfering with the operation of the bar.

The leaves are further held in their proper stacked-position when the upper binder head is removed and particularly when the body of leaves is thicker than the length of the posts 33 by inverted posts Y35 carried by a bridge bar 36 adapted to be'engaged with the top-most sheets ot the body and having apertures registering with the apertures 19 and 34 of the inner wall of the upper binder and through which the ilexible posts 13 and tho posts 31 pass. TheY bridge bar also assists in maintaining the i top-most sheets of the body in proper alignment in the event they are removed to permit the insertion of other sheets, as will be readily apparent; and further assists posts 31 in retaining the leaves in proper alignment for the engagement of the top binder head with the flexible posts.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I provide a novel and improved binder head in which one of the heads may be leasily removed to permit the removal or insertion of additional sheets and which may be firmly connected with the flexible posts to permit the application of any desired tension thereon.

vWha-t I claim as my invention is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of binder heads, a substantiall flexible post member extensibly connecte with one head and adapted to be passed into the other, means concealed within said other binder head for readily detachably connecting the same with the end of the post passed therein, a rigid binder post connected with the first binder head to maintain a body of leaves in alignment thereon when the second binder head is removed, a bridge bar adapted to engage the top-most leaves, and a binder post rigid therewith andv adapted to be passed through the leaves in a direction opposite to the rst mentioned rigid post.

2. In a loose leaf-binder, a pairof binder heads, a substantially flexible post member extensibly connected with one head and adapted toy be passed into the other, means concealed within vsaid other binder headv for readilydetachably connecting the same with the end of the binder post passed therein, a bridge bar adapted to engage the topmost of a body of leaves adapted to be secured between the binder heads, and a binder post rigid therewith and adapted t0 be passed throughthe leaves.

head having an aperture in one wall through which one end of a post extends into the binder head, a substantiall cup-shaped member stamped from benda le metal carried by the opposite wall of the binder head in alignment with the aperture, aslide bar mountedA between the cup-shaped member and the apertured wall adapted to be engaged with the ost member to detachably connect the said ead therewith, means carried by the slide bar and engaging the apertured wall to cooperate with the cup-shaped member in maintaining the slide bar in its proper plane of movement.v

4. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular binder head having an aperture in onewall adapted to receive abinder post, a substantially cupshaped member stamped from bendable metal secured to the opposite `wall of the Y 110 3, In a loose leaf binder, a tubular binder binderhead in alignment with the aperture and adapted to receive the end of the post Y extended into the binder head, a slide bar mountedy between the cup-shaped member and the apertured wall adapted to engage with the post member to detachably connect the head therewith, said slide bar engaging the cup-shaped member, and spacing means struck from the slide bar and engaging the l apertured Wall to cooperate with the cupshaped member in maintaining the slide bar in its proper planeof movement.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular binder head having an aperture in one Wall, a bind- ,5 er post adapted to have one end extended into the binder head, said end of the post having an annular groove, a substantially cup-shaped member carried by the opposite Wall of the binder head in alignment with the aperture and adapted to receive the eX- treme end of the post, a slide bar mounted between the cup-shaped member and the apertured Wall and having a key-hole slot engageable With the post annular groove vto 2b detaehably connect the head With the post,

one side of the slide bar engaging the cupshaped member, and flanges struck from lthe slide bar adjacent the key-hole slot and engaging the apertured Wall to space the 3U slide bar therefrom and cooperate with the cup-shaped member in maintaining the slide bar in proper alignment With the annular groove in the post.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 3;, aixed my signature.V

ADOLPI-I G. LOTTER. 

